A Wanton Tale Read Online Free

boy or girl would watch the shop from the other side of the street, while the second nimbly unbuttoned a coat from its display dummy outside the shop. It would be stripped off in seconds and the thief would have long sprinted off with the speed of a hare before the unfortunate shopkeeper had noticed.
    Lottie was occasionally offered such stolen items from the thieving children. She would offer very little in return but they were pleased to take just pennies to get them off their hands.
    She would then sell them in the George Tavern at the Pier Head with no trouble at all and could make herself a small profit. The sufferers from such thefts were generally the struggling traders of the town shops, but Lottie didn’t care.
    ‘Where are you going Alice, can I come too?’ Asked Ruby pleadingly.
    ‘Be quiet we are wasting time.’ Said the mother as she quickly led Alice out the front door into the April drizzle. Despite her wish to move on in life, Alice had a sense of foreboding. She was daunted by the thought of working in a house to someone else’s standards. She was inexperienced as not much housework had ever been done in her mother’s house. She dragged her heels all the way there, her heart was heavy but she didn’t quite know why she was feeling that way. It was just a feeling. Nevertheless, she went like a lamb to the slaughter.
    It took them less than half an hour to get there, they had cut through the side streets and soon they were in Betsy’s cosy parlour. ‘For the time being Alice will take over Mary’s duties.’ She went on to explain the routine of the house and outlined the jobs which needed to be done, the list seemed endless.
    ‘You will soon settle in Dearie.’ She gave Lottie a knowing look and scrutinised the girl as though she was making a purchase from a shop.
    ‘Kiss your Ma goodbye and make us a nice cuppa tea.’ Lottie wasn’t disappointed not to be offered refreshments and soon left her daughter to the mercy of this predator.
    Careful not to frighten her off, she embarked on a tale of elaborate lies. For the time being she would not reveal that the girls in the house were selling their bodies.
    ‘It will dawn on her eventually, she looks quite astute and soon she will be on her back.’ Thought Betsy cynically.
    Something about the house made Alice feel uncomfortable. Her instincts were telling her to run out of the door but she hated her neglectful mother and knew that she never wanted to go back home. Her enormous blue eyes took in her surroundings which was a far cry from where she had come from. Alice decided that she would make the best of it.
    Betsy was a daunting figure to the twelve year old and she meekly followed her to the back kitchen. She outlined her mundane duties. There was always a kettle of hot water on the range and soon they were drinking tea in the parlour.
    ‘Thank you Mrs. Hale, that was nice.’ Alice had broken the uncomfortable silence. She found Betsy’s gaze penetrating as she was admiring her flaxen hair. Alice had never before drunk tea from china cups, soon she began to relax, Betsy made her feel most welcome.
    ‘I’ll show you around the house now Alice.’ The first room she showed her was the kitchen.
    ‘Why is there a bed in here Mrs. Hale?’ It was the room between the parlour and the back kitchen, Alice thought it was strange.
    Betsy was ready with her answers, she had it all rehearsed what she was going to tell the young girl. She often bought herbs and concoctions from nearby China Town. She lifted a fancy Oriental jar from a shelf in the kitchen over the bed.
    ‘Smell this love, do you know what it is?’ Betsy then thrust the pot right under her nose. Inside was a pungent mixture of exotic herbs which made the girl sneeze. Betsy then cackled, ‘These are very special remedies, they came all the way from China and heal sick people and my young nieces have the gift of healing. That’s why people come here to get relief from aches and pains